IMPORTANT DATES 

  • Application Available: October 10, 2025 - APPLY HERE (to see the application questions, scroll to the bottom of this page and click on documents.)

  • Application Deadline: November 7, 2025 

  • Panel Review: November 2025 

  • Grant Award Notification: November – December 2025 

Grants Program 
The San Mateo County Office of Arts and Culture and its Arts Commission is pleased to announce our 2026 Grants Program. The streamlined grant opportunity will provide general support funding for eligible arts and culture nonprofit organizations located in or serving San Mateo County. This funding provides grantees with the flexibility to use the funds in the most applicable way for their individual organization, and for greatest impact on overall organizational health and sustainability. We look to you as our partners in the important work of growing our arts and culture eco-system to create a vital, creative, and healthy community. 

General Support 
General support funds may be used by the organization as needed to support the organization’s overhead, salaries, or other needs. 

Eligibility 

  1. Must be an arts or cultural organizations located in or serving residents in San Mateo County 

  1. Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit or fiscally sponsored organization in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service or a local public agency/entity 

  1. Must have been in operation for 1+ years  

  1. Must have a budget under $1,000,000 

Review Criteria 
Requests for grant funds are reviewed based on evidence organizations’ ability to: 

  • Celebrate the arts and culture through programs that reflect the diverse needs and communities of the County 

  • Present effective arts and culture programs/services in San Mateo County, including programs that are accessible and inviting to all communities in San Mateo County  

  • Articulate a clear vision and plan for success and sustainability 

  • Work to create a fair and just environment and the conditions needed for all to participate in artistic, creative, and cultural opportunities regardless of background. 

  • Demonstrate the organization is well-managed, effective, and financially viable  

  • Establish impactful goals and appropriate evaluation methods 

  • Partner/collaborate with others for community benefit and organizational efficiency 

  • Attract/secure board members reflective of the residents of San Mateo County  

What We Do Not Fund 

  • Individuals, individual artists, scholarships or fellowships 

  • Organizations that discriminate with regards to employees, volunteers, delivery of programs/services or clients served based on age, sex, religion/creed, race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, marital status, military or veterans’ status, or socioeconomic status 

  • Any organization that is not consistent with the mission, values, and strategic framework of the San Mateo County Arts Commission 

  • Capital expenditures including construction projects; purchase of land and buildings, equipment, or debt repayment 

  • Trusts, endowment funds or investments 

  • Activities with a political or religious purpose or lobbying activities 

Review Process 
The streamlined process ensures potential grantees’ eligibility before beginning the application and only fully completed applications may be submitted through the application. There will be a review panel consisting of Arts Commissioners and arts non-profit peers that will use a rubric reflecting San Mateo County, the Office of Arts and Culture and its Arts Commission’s policies to review and rank applications for funding. The County of San Mateo is committed to a just and fair government, working to create the conditions needed for all to fully participate in economic, civic, and social opportunities so that all residents, regardless of background, have the conditions they need to reach their full potential.  The Arts Commissioners will review the panel’s recommendations and award grants accordingly. The decisions of the Arts Commission are final.

San Mateo County Arts Commissioners who have professional or volunteer affiliations with any organizations that apply for grants from the Commission will excuse themselves from any deliberation concerning these grants. 

We will offer 30-minute office hour appointments for those organizations that have questions and/or need additional assistance.  To make an appointment or for any grant related questions, email Mara Grimes, OAC Administrator-Manager mgrimes@smcgov.org

See last year's grantees here.

Online Resources for Grant Writing:

Tips on Preparing a Successful Grant Application 

The 9 Do’s of Grant Proposal Writing